ITV

Category: MAM

  • Sony in hot pursuit, eyes No.3 spot with KBC

    Sony in hot pursuit, eyes No.3 spot with KBC

    MUMBAI: Zee TV is under attack. For the third time in the year, Sony Entertainment Television is trailing behind by just three GRPs (gross rating points).

    The problem for Zee TV is that Sony‘s flagship game show Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) will make its appearance from 15 August. The Amitabh Bachchan-hosted show at 8.30 pm is positioned as a gateway to Sony‘s primetime programming.

    Sony expects its two fiction shows – Saas Bina Sasural (10 pm) and Bade Acche Lagte Hain (10.30 pm) – to get a lift.

    “We are confident that KBC will deliver again. With or without KBC, Sony will reach the No. 3 position by the year-end,” said Set senior EVP and business head Sneha Rajani.

    For week ended 6 August, Set is at fourth place on the GEC ladder with 187 GRPs (last week 190), as per TAM data for Hindi speaking markets (C&S, 4+) for the week ended 6 August. Zee TV is ahead with 190 GRPs (208 last week).

    Meanwhile, Star Plus continues to lead with 304 GRPs (last week 345). The loss of 41 GRPs comes after the IIFA Award telecast.

    Colors is ranked second, comfortably ahead of Zee TV. Colors ended the week with 269 GRPs (last week 266). Balika Vadhu has once again topped the charts with 5.69 TVR.

    Sab clocked 124 GRPs in the week, one less from last week‘s ratings. Imagine TV collected 70 GRPs, while Star One and Sahara One are at the bottom with 36 and 33 GRPs respectively.

  • Marico to cut ad spends

    Marico to cut ad spends

    MUMBAI: FMCG major Marico has said that it would further slash advertising spends to offset input cost pressure and avoid price hike.

    “Commodity prices are a big challenge for us…We have to manage cost in such a manner that we do not increase prices. So we have to look for other ways on how to cut cost,” Marico chairman and MD Harsh Mariwala told PTI.

    Mariwala also said that to reduce costs, the firm will probably cut down its advertising expenditure to about 9 per cent of the sales of the company.

    “There will be impact on our advertising spend. We have to cut down on the other expenses in order to meet the challenge [input costs pressure],” he added.

  • UK riots make Levi’s postpone ad launch

    UK riots make Levi’s postpone ad launch

    MUMBAI: Levi‘s has temporarily postponed the launch of its first ever global campaign in the UK, saying that the visuals of the ad bizarrely resemble the images of current unrest in the country.


    The company said that the ad featured ‘risky‘ scenes of rioting and, hence, not appropriate to launch in Britain in the current point in time.


    Entitled ‘Levi‘s Legacy‘, the video was released on social networking site Facebook yesterday morning. But since then Levi‘s has decided against airing the ad on TV or in cinemas in the UK.


    The ad was shot during May Day in Berlin, and the crowd scenes are uncomfortably similar to rioting currently going on in the country.


    The American agency, Wieden & Kennedy, handled creative for the campaign, which also includes digital, print, outdoor and in-store media.

  • WPP to outsource finance jobs to India

    WPP to outsource finance jobs to India

    MUMBAI: Cut and snip. That‘s what global advertising agency group WPP is resorting to in the midst of rising costs and a tough economy.

    It is proposing to outsource the jobs being done by those being chopped from its North American operations – mainly in the finance and billing area — to India, reports Ad Age. And the likely Indian beneficiary: Genpact.

    The report in Ad Age stated that all together around 100 professionals will be eased out of the agency network in the US in the coming months, and it covers Ogilvy & Mather, JWT, Grey, Y&R and Wunderman.

    Ogilvy is expected to drop 85 professionals in the next 18 months; Grey as many as 30 people beginning in mid-2012, while JWT could dunk 16 people or fewer.

  • Seventymm launches Chhota Bheem merchandise

    Seventymm launches Chhota Bheem merchandise

    MUMBAI: Online shopping portal Seventymm has launched Chhota Bheem merchandise for all his little folks.

    The collection will include range of Chhota Bheem mugs and photo frames by Seventymm.

    Seventymm CEO Mudit Khosla said, “The idea behind coming up with this collection was basically to be able to cater to the kids and bring to them something exciting and unique. I am sure the kids are going to love the collection and we‘ll be getting very good reception for the same.”

    One has to log on to www.seventymm.com portal, and choose from the different options, make payments and get the delivery done.

  • Sudipto Chowdhuri joins as SVP — national sales for TV9 Kannada and News9

    Sudipto Chowdhuri joins as SVP — national sales for TV9 Kannada and News9

    BANGALORE:TV9 group has appointed Sudipto Chowdhuri as SVP — national sales and brand positioning for TV9 Kannada and News9.

    Chowdhuri will be reporting to the TV9 Kannada and News9 director Mahendra Mishra.

    In his two decades of experience, Chowdhuri has worked with brands such as Tata Yellow Pages, India Today, Zee Network, 9X and Star News.

    Chowdhuri‘s last assignment was with Star News network based in Mumbai. He has worked across all markets in the country and is equipped with knowledge of corporate and retail advertising in both TV and Print.

    Mishra says, “As TV9 Kannada and News9 continue to grow as South India‘s most powerful media brands, we will look to Sudipto to take these channels to even greater heights.”

  • Turner Broadcasting sets up internal agency for connect with clients

    Turner Broadcasting sets up internal agency for connect with clients

    MUMBAI: Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific, Inc is restructuring its sponsorship and promotions department to Turner Media Solutions, a full-service in-house agency designed to create customised marketing solutions.

    Turner Media Solutions will aim to develop holistic campaigns to connect advertisers with audiences across Turner‘s 12 entertainment brands, the company said.

    Coinciding with this announcement is the launch of TurnerMediaSolutions.com, an online creative hub showcasing Turner‘s entertainment portfolio as well as a library of campaign innovation and case studies.

    “As a leader in kids‘ and entertainment content creation we‘re well placed to offer our clients this core expertise, crafted exactly to their business needs. Whether partners want to engage with kids in India, families in Australia or affluent travelers in Japan, TurnerMediaSolutions.com provides immediate insights into how we can help create something truly unique that will deliver on their objectives,” said Turner Media Solutions director Con Apostolopoulos.

    From animation and customised game development in the kids‘ space to original programming throughout Turner‘s portfolio of channels, Turner Media Solutions intends to integrate brands with its programming and characters across TV, web, mobile and live events.

    Leveraging the expertise and broader reach of Turner‘s research and communications team, and retail specialists across the region, the in-house agency aims to add significant value to company‘s partners.

    “Through Turner Media Solutions, we aim to establish close connections with clients and agencies and hope they‘ll find our new online creative hub an invaluable resource. We‘re committed to creating a very fluid conversation with our clients and TurnerMediaSolutions.com is a great springboard for new ideas,” stated Apostolopoulos.

  • Sony targets Rs 2 bn from KBC

    Sony targets Rs 2 bn from KBC

    MUMBAI: It’s hoping to hit the jackpot itself. Sony Entertainment Television (SET) is looking at more than doubling its advertising revenues from its flagship reality game show, Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), even as it is lengthening the telecast time of each episode and its seasonal run.


    The Hindi general entertainment television channel is expecting to reap an ad revenue of Rs 1.80 to Rs 2 billion from the fifth edition (second on Sony) of the show, according to market estimates.


    This time the show will run for 14 weeks in 1 and a half hour long episodes. In the previous edition, KBC ran for seven weeks in one-hour episodes.


    “Sony is looking at more than doubling its ad revenues as the inventory has gone up. Besides, the channel‘s ratings have improved as well,” said a media analyst.


    The channel is spending an estimated Rs 800-100 million on marketing the game show, which will be hosted by Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan. Last time SET spent Rs 110 million on marketing the show.


    “We had to spend more on marketing the show last time because we had to stress on the fact that KBC was shifting from Star TV to Sony. Also, Bachchan was returning to the show after a gap of six years,” said SET senior vice president and marketing head Danish Khan, while declining to comment on the actual spends this year.


    Placing the show at 8.30 pm every Monday-Friday, Sony is using the flagship show as a gateway to its primetime programming. The channel plans to launch a fiction show at 8 pm in mid-September.


    “We have two fiction shows which are doing well at late primetime. This is a good time band to attract audiences from smaller towns and metros. KBC is going deeper this time,” stated Khan.


    KBC was aired at 9 pm in the previous edition.


    Sony is expanding the role of KBC from just a game show to a “show that reflects the transformation of lives in India”.


    “Our entire marketing premise is built on this. Our five set of TVCs will reflect this message,” Khan commented.


    The themes chosen for the television commercials aim to highlight the country‘s identity: inflation, corruption, old age, relationships and hedonistic.


    The show‘s positioning has been amplified from “Koi bhi sawaal chota nai hota” to ‘Koi bhi insaan chota nahin hota‘.


    “This year‘s thought of ‘Koi Bhi Insaan Chota nahin Hota‘ is rooted in a popular belief of the society that ‘everybody inherently has the capability to achieve something extra-ordinary‘. Hence, all stories stem from the big idea – ‘do not underestimate anybody‘. KBC is not just a game show but it leads to information. It is rooted to India‘s culture that knowledge is power”, averred Khan.


    With a broader positioning, Sony has changed its promotional plans as well with television staying as the frontier medium. “Television and cinema will convey the message of the changing India. Print, radio and outdoor will act as reminders for appointment viewing,” Khan said.


    Conceptualised by Leo Burnett and produced by Chrome Pictures, the campaign has five TVCs, each with a distinct story and character. It reiterates the power that lies with the average middle-class man.


    “The hot seat is a great leveler. It transforms lives. The whole auditioning process is done in such a way that every contestant has a story to tell. Each of the 52 episodes will tell a story of the common Indian,” asserted Khan.


    The reliance on TV has also extended the spots‘ duration to 60-seconds.


    “Since the previous year was a very successful one for KBC, we are hoping that this one does even better. We have received fabulous response from our digital promotions as well. Our main objective was to create the most memorable campaign,” Khan concluded.

  • Suzlon powers a new brand initiative – p.a.l.s.

    Suzlon powers a new brand initiative – p.a.l.s.

    MUMBAI: Wind power company, Suzlon, has launched a new brand campaign called p.a.l.s. – the Pure Air Lovers‘ Society.

    The company has roped in radio jockey Malishka; model and actor Milind Soman; actor, social worker, and author Gerson da Cunha; and writer and columnist Anil Dharker, as the first p.a.l.s. champions.

    P.a.l.s. aims to emphasise that clean air, green open spaces and proper channels of garbage disposal all lead to an improved quality of living. With a national print and TV campaign, the movement aims to gain traction through online registrations at www.pals.in.

    Suzlon Group global head of brand Dharini Mishra said, “At Suzlon, we want to go beyond our corporate duties and dispel apathy to create social consciousness on environmental change. Working towards this, we initiated p.a.l.s. – a group of environmentally responsible individuals, who not only voice their opinions against the constant threat to our environment, but follow through in their actions. We believe that p.a.l.s. will create a change in attitudes, and eventually actions, to make our air cleaner and environment healthier.”

    Lowe Lintas chairman R Balki said, “We are proud to partner with Suzlon to create a campaign that is critical and relevant to the times we live in. We believe that the p.a.l.s. movement will resonate with the people of India, educating and empowering them to make choices that have a direct impact on our planet.”

  • JK Cement signs Virender Sehwag as brand ambassador

    JK Cement signs Virender Sehwag as brand ambassador

    MUMBAI: Cement manufacturers J.K. Cement has roped in Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag as its brand ambassador, and has launched the first spot featuring him.

    The television commercial is the brainchild of Basic4 – a Delhi-based advertising agency.

    The concept of the TVC revolves around situations wherein Viru or Phodu goes about his habit of smashing cricket balls so hard that the surroundings are under threat of getting decimated; thankfully, there‘s Jodu or J.K. Cement around, to keep buildings intact.

    Moreover, J.K. Cement is planning to promote the campaign with all-round television, radio and BTL activities.

    For brand building, this would be a 360-degree campaign encompassing consumer promotions, online support and public relations, and would be unveiled in a phased manner over the next two years.

    J.K. Cement brand manager Nitish Chopra said, “We also plan to involve Sehwag in ground-level activation, engagement, customer outreach programs and various BTL activities like consumer and dealer meets, Point of Purchase material etc.”

    Sehwag said, “I‘m happy to be associated with J.K. Cement. It‘s very interesting to see how they have related my strengths with their product attributes and conceptualized an ad that strikes a connect with the audience.”

    Chopra added, “Having been in the industry for over 35 years, the company has built its credentials with a never say die attitude and a penchant for smashing challenges ruthlessly. That, when given a human persona, had to be a person who would be both experienced and aggressive and at the same time be both dependable and unique. Keeping this in mind, while deciding on our brand ambassador, Virender Sehwag was the obvious choice, to be the face of J.K. Cement.”

    Basic4 creative director Mayank Gaur said, “Among all the smashers of the cricket ball (or phodu‘s, as they are popularly referred to across India), Sehwag is unique in that he combines brute power with staying power. His two triple centuries and 13 odd 150+ test scores conclusively settle that argument. We thought countering this phodu‘s onslaught with our jodu – J.K. Cement, another champion of staying power, would be an engaging way of getting across our brand promise – ‘Vishwas hai, isme kuch khaas hai‘.”

    Chrome Pictures is producing the TVC.